Alternating Current - AC and DC are different types of electrical current: batteries naturally produce DC, while rotating machines (motors/generators) naturally produce AC. Since the mains electrical grid is always AC and we want to charge a battery in the car, charging will always involve a combination of AC and DC. In the case of the Model S, “DC” covers Supercharging and use of the CHAdeMO adapter with public fast charging points, and “AC” is everything else.

An enhanced version of AP2, it contains a superior computer system among other changes.

AS

Auto Steer

AWD

All Wheel Drive (4x4)

Awesome

A word that should be mentioned whenever you see anyone called Graham.

BEV

Battery electric vehicle. Cars like Tesla or Nissan Leaf are sometimes called BEV to differentiate them from fuel cell vehicles are also electric vehicles.

BHP

Brake horsepower (BHP) is the measure of an engine's horsepower (HP) before the loss in power caused by the gearbox, alternator, differential, water pump, and other auxiliary components such as power steering pump, muffled exhaust system, etc.

Bio Weapon Defence Mode

Bioweapon defence mode creates a positive cabin air pressure so the air in the cabin remains clean. More info. Bioweapon Defense Mode is not a marketing statement, it is real. You can literally survive a military grade bio-attack by sitting in your car. Also, see HEPA below.

Blackvue

A manufacture of dash cameras

BMS

Battery Management System.

Bulb

A home energy provider that offers a fully renewable power supply

CAN

Controller Area Network.

CCS

Combined Charging System (SAE DC fast charging connector, based on the J1772 in N. America and the Mennekes type 2 plug in Europe)

Ceramic

Ceramic paint protection

CHAdeMO

A Japanese-developed standard for EV DC quick charging, often found at Ecotricity, Chargemaster and CYC charger points. The 2nd quickest method to charge your Tesla (if you’ve got the £400+ adaptor available from Tesla).

Chargebump

An app that allows you to privately message other cars without either parties revealing their private details. You enter the car registration plate of the car you want to ‘bump’ and it sends them an alert, they can then respond with a message e.g. “Back in 5 minutes” etc.

CID

Central Information Display (see also MCU)

Commando

A type of power socket often found around industrial units, backs of hotels, farms, campsites etc.

Creep

A mode on the Tesla that when your foot is off the brake the car will edge forward at somewhere between 0-2mph. Optional on all cars, switch in the settings.

CRM

Customer Relationship Management - Often in relation to the emails they send owners

D

Dual motor: A Model S equipped with two (front and rear axle) motors, each with a fixed gear reduction and a power inverter to provide all wheel drive. This improves traction, stability, and efficiency at high speed. It also increases the power and performance of the Model S at the expense of higher cost, weight, and smaller frunk space.

David

Often relates to David from Shield-IT who installs dash cameras

DC

Direct Current - AC and DC are different types of electrical current: batteries naturally produce DC, while rotating machines (motors/generators) naturally produce AC. Since the mains electrical grid is always AC and we want to charge a battery in the car, charging will always involve a combination of AC and DC. In the case of the Model S, “DC” covers Supercharging and use of the CHAdeMO adapter with public fast charging points, and “AC” is everything else.

Dash Cam

A small camera that sits on the windscreen (& often rear screen as well) which constantly records video in case of an accident etc.

Dechrome

To remove the chrome parts around the windows of a car

Destination charger

A charger that should be free to use if you’re a Tesla owner and are using the facilities of the location the charger is situated at. e.g. a hotel may offer it but generally it’s only for hotel guests. Of course, in an emergency you should be fine to use but these are much slower than a supercharger so shouldn’t be relied upon for journeys.

DS

Delivery Specialists - The people that sort the paperwork out for your collection.

Ecotricity

A home energy provider that offers fully renewable power and owners of the Electric Highway

EH

Electric Highway run by Ecotricity

EM

Elon Musk

EPA

US Environmental Protection Agency. They test the driving range of electric vehicles and publish on their website. For example the Model S 85 has 265 miles EPA rated range. A list of all electric vehicles and their EPA rated range numbers can be found on the EPA website here. A 5 cycle test is performed to test the range. More info about this test can be found here.

EV

Electric Vehicle

EVSE

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (delivers power to an EV)

Fast (Charging)

The term isn't used very often but it generally relates to AC charging at a rate of 7-22kW

FCV

Fuel-Cell Vehicle (most likely hydrogen)

Fremont

The main production factory for all Tesla vehicles, based in Fremont California

FWD

1. Front-wheel drive
2. Falcon wing doors

GF

Gigafactory

Gtechniq

A brand of Ceramic Paint Protection

HEPA

High-efficiency particulate air filter. It filters the air to remove pollen, bacteria, and pollution as it enters the cabin. It's found on all cars with Bio-Weapon Defense Mode. More info.

HFCV

Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicle

HID

High Intensity Discharge headlamps

HP

Horse Power (see BHP)
or Hire Purchase

HPC

High-Power Connector (a Tesla specific non-portable 240V EVSE)

HPWC

High-Power Wall Connector (a Tesla specific non-portable 240V EVSE)

HUD

Head-Up Display

HW2

HardWare 2 (Facelift Cars with AutoPilot 2 Hardware)

IC

Instrument Cluster

ICE

Internal Combustion Engine

IMO

In My Opinion

InsideEVs

A website talking about EVs

IP

Intellectual property

J1772

A SAE-developed standard for EV electrical connectors & signalling

JC (or Jaffa Cakes)

Jaffa Cakes (a long running joke for UK Tesla owners) but only McVities will do. Confused? Read this

A website that shows you all the available chargers nearby to your location

POLAR

Polar is a charging network run by Chargemaster. Polar Instant is the mobile phone payment method. Polar Plus is the pay by card payment method.

Rapid

‘Rapid’ often relates to a CCS or CHAdeMO charger

REX

Range extender. BMW i3 REX comes with a range extender ICE engine.

RHD

Right Hand Drive

RTFM

Read the f*cking manual - Often said to someone who asks a question that has been asked thousands of times. Remember you can search any Facebook group by keywords and the UK user manual is accessible on the Tesla website inside your account or a slightly older version is on here which is worth downloading and remember to use your devices search/find function to quickly find the issue you have.

Is a reference to this post + 500+ comments where the range of a Model X was questioned as it hit 0% and Tesla's use of NEDC figures during the sales process. It turned out the usage was over 4 days and had a slightly higher than normal Wh/mi.

SC

Service Center. Although sometimes mistakingly referring to SuperChargers (SuC)

An installer of dash cameras and extra lighting in the UK. Details on holbon.co.uk

Single Phase (or 1-phase)

A standard power supply to the vast majority of homes and chargers in the UK charger/power.

SOC

State of Charge (the % or miles of your battery)

SpC

Supercharger

SuC

SuperChargers run by Tesla

SvC (SC is more commonly used)

Service Center (SC is more commonly used)

TACC

Traffic Aware Cruise Control

Three Phase (3-phase)

A charger/power adapter/power supply that can give a lot more power than single phase. Often these are found at industrial units, farms etc. You may be able to upgrade your home power supply to a 3-phase supply (at a cost), this will give you considerably higher charge rates at home (more so with dual chargers).

Tilburg

A town in the Netherlands that the EU Tesla Assembly factory is located. All cars destined for the UK go via this location.

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